<p>Yeah, I think that is a great question to ask and, in general, it is just a great idea to start making connections. Who knows, the professor could be a jerk, or may just not have time or interest in undergrads, or may be super excited to engage an undergrad who is interested in his field. In any scenario, you’ll probably find out something interesting. Just introduce yourself and explain the reason for contacting him, but make it concise because these are busy guys. You also could email other people in the department just to get a feel, even if they aren’t exactly in your area of interest.</p>